Is Honda Motor Co Ltd (ADR) (HMC)’s New Fit a Hit or a Miss?

Sales of the Fit have remained strong even as strong contenders like Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F)‘s Fiesta have gained ground. Through June, U.S. sales of Honda’s subcompact were up 5.2%, a good gain for an outgoing model in a segment that has lagged a bit as consumers have started moving back toward larger cars and SUVs.

The appeal of the old car is obvious, especially if you talk to a Fit owner. But I’m not sure what to make of the new car. The look is definitely a departure from the current car’s, and appears to take visual cues from Honda’s Insight hybrid, which has been a very slow seller.

When Honda Motor Co Ltd (ADR) (NYSE:HMC) redesigned its Civic a few years back, fans and critics were disappointed – the car didn’t seem to have what it needed to compete with hot new contenders like Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F)’s Focus. Honda had to rush an updated version to market far ahead of schedule. That updated version has fared better, but it was an un-Honda-like misstep. Will this new Fit turn out to be another?

What do you think? Is the new car a winner, or is Honda losing its touch? Scroll down to leave a comment and let me know.

The article Is Honda’s New Fit a Hit or a Miss? originally appeared on Fool.com and is written by John Rosevear.

Fool contributor John Rosevear owns shares of Ford. Follow him on Twitter at @jrosevear. The Motley Fool recommends Ford. The Motley Fool owns shares of Ford.

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